Difference between revisions of "Ruin"

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{{shard info
 
{{shard info
 
|image=Ruin.jpg
 
|image=Ruin.jpg
  +
|vessel={{nosnippet|[[Sazed]]}}
|shard=Ruin
 
|holder=[[Sazed]]
 
 
|status=Whole, conjoined with [[Preservation]]
 
|status=Whole, conjoined with [[Preservation]]
 
|slivers=[[Ati]]
 
|slivers=[[Ati]]
 
|splinters=None{{wob ref|3020}}
 
|splinters=None{{wob ref|3020}}
|shardpool=[[Ruin's Perpendicularity]], [[Pits of Hathsin]]
+
|perpendicularity=[[Ruin's Perpendicularity]], [[Pits of Hathsin]]
 
|magic=[[Hemalurgy]], [[Feruchemy]]
 
|magic=[[Hemalurgy]], [[Feruchemy]]
 
|residence=[[Scadrial]]
 
|residence=[[Scadrial]]
 
|books=[[Mistborn Era 1]]
 
|books=[[Mistborn Era 1]]
 
}}
 
}}
 
 
{{quote
 
{{quote
| This force was time infinite. It was the winds that weathered, the storms that broke, the timeless waves running slowly, slowly, slowly, to a stop as the sun and the planet cooled to nothing.
+
|This force was time infinite. It was the winds that weathered, the storms that broke, the timeless waves running slowly, slowly, slowly, to a stop as the sun and the planet cooled to nothing. It was the ultimate end and destiny of all things. And it was angry.
  +
|Kelsier{{msh ref|2|1}}
<br />
 
It was the ultimate end and destiny of all things. And it was angry.|multiline=y
 
| Kelsier on Ruin.{{msh ref|2|1}}
 
 
}}
 
}}
   
'''Ruin''' is a [[Shard|Shard of Adonalsium]]. Its original [[Vessel]] was [[Ati]], but is currently held by [[Sazed]]. Ruin's power has "intermingled" with [[Preservation]]'s to form the shard [[Harmony]].{{wob ref|4115}}
+
'''Ruin''', also known as '''Herr''' in [[Southern Scadrial]], is one of the [[Shard]]s of [[Adonalsium]].{{book ref|mb6|22}} Its original [[Vessel]] was [[Ati]], but it's currently held by [[Sazed]] alongside [[Preservation]], forming [[Harmony]].{{wob ref|4115}} Ruin's [[Investiture]] is typically associated with the color black.{{wob ref|3031}}
Ruin is known as '''Frue''' to the [[Southern Scadrian]]s.{{book ref|mb6|22}}
 
   
 
== Intent ==
 
== Intent ==
  +
{{quote
Ruin seeks change.{{cite}} It is not inherently evil, because without change there is no life, but its destructive actions are often contrary to life existing peacefully. This intent has not changed with the Fusing of [[Preservation]]; it is just tempered by it.{{cite}}
 
  +
|Death is necessary. Every clock must wind down, every day must end. Without me there is no life, and never could have been. Life is change, and I represent that change.
  +
|Ruin{{msh ref|4|4}}
  +
}}
  +
  +
Ruin is the embodiment of entropy and decay; it seeks change, so that all may age and pass.{{wob ref|4130}} It is not inherently evil, as without change there can be no life, but its destructive actions are often contrary to life existing peacefully.{{wob ref|10203}}{{wob ref|7950}} This approach to Ruin as simply inevitable decay is largely due to [[Ati]]'s original kind nature, as he deliberately channeled Ruin towards a more peacable state. In other hands, the Shard would've been a far more destructive force.{{wob ref|10334}}
  +
  +
It is the polar opposite of [[Preservation]] -- a relation most other Shards don't have.{{wob ref|5518}} Since the [[Final Ascension]], Preservation has tempered Ruin's intent, which also makes it difficult for anyone holding [[Harmony]] to take direct action heavily favoring one side or the other.{{book ref|mb5|7}}
   
 
== Associated magic ==
 
== Associated magic ==
  +
{{image|Steel Inquisitor Matthew Johnson Inktober2018.jpg|side=right|width=250px|[[Steel Inquisitor]], a person altered by [[Hemalurgy]]}}
Ruin fuels [[Hemalurgy]], one of the three Metallic Arts on [[Scadrial]]. [[Hemalurgy]] is a unique magic in that unlike most it is not limited to [[Scadrial]] and can be used by anyone anywhere. Hemalurgy is a method of removing a portion of a person's spirit web and grafting it onto someone else. While [[Hemalurgy]]'s potential is largely unexplored and remains a great mystery, it is mainly used to grant access to various [[Investiture]] systems for the recipient. Individuals who are pierced by Hemalurgic spikes can hear Ruin's voice in their head. In addition to this, Ruin can also subtly manipulate the emotions of spiked individuals, and slightly alter their perception of certain things without them being aware of it. The more spikes piercing a person, the more holes in their spirit web, which in turn allows for easier control by the Vessel of Ruin as well as susceptibility to emotional Allomancy. For example, humans with one spike are only subtly affected by Ruin, whereas [[Koloss]], which are human with four spikes, are under direct and absolute control of Ruin. Three spikes or less do not enable Ruin or emotional Allomancy to completely control a human.{{book ref|mb6|27}}
 
  +
=== Hemalurgy ===
  +
{{for|Hemalurgy}}
   
  +
Ruin fuels [[Hemalurgy]] -- one of the three Metallic Arts on [[Scadrial]], and a unique one among them in that it can be used by anyone anywhere, provided they have the appropriate tools and [[intention|Intent]].{{wob ref|6312}} It allows for removing a portion of a person's [[spiritweb]] and grafting it onto someone else with a metal spike, essentially stealing an attribute or power and giving it to another. Various attributes can be stolen, from physical qualities such as strength or senses to magical powers, like [[Allomancy|Allomantic]] abilities, and even foreign magic systems like [[Surgebinding]].{{wob ref|12018}} What attribute is stolen depends on the metal used and the placement of the spike.{{file ref|Hemalurgy table.jpg|text=Hemalurgy Table}} By transplanting powers and qualities, Hemalurgy can be used to effectively create new species; examples of such creatures are [[kandra]], [[koloss]] and the [[Steel Inquisitor]]s.
== Physical Manifestations of Power ==
 
;Gas:
 
A black mist is a manifestation of Ruin's power. How this affects Hemalurgy is unknown if at all. This mist was present at the Well of Ascension upon Vin's discovery of the well. A similar manifestation appears after [[Ati]]'s death before [[Sazed]] takes up both shards. After the Final Ascension, black mists are sent forth by Harmony, as well as the usual mists, which are of Preservation.
 
   
  +
People who are pierced by Hemalurgic spikes can hear Ruin's voice in their head. Moreover, Ruin can also subtly manipulate the emotions of spiked individuals, and slightly alter their perception of certain things without them being aware of it. The more spikes pierce a person, the more holes in their spiritweb, which in turn allows for easier control as well as greater susceptibility to emotional Allomancy. For example, humans with one spike are only subtly affected by Ruin, whereas koloss, which are humans with four spikes, are under direct and absolute control of Ruin. Three spikes or less do not enable complete control of a person.{{book ref|mb6|27}}
;Liquid:
 
Pools of metallic liquid are said to exist below the [[Pits of Hathsin]] and this is the liquid form of Ruin's power. Before the days of the Final Empire, these pools were a black lake with a metallic sheen, located high in the Terris mountains, close to the Well of Ascension.{{book ref|mb1|33}}{{wob ref|5786}}
 
   
  +
=== Feruchemy ===
;Solid:
 
  +
{{for|Feruchemy}}
The solid form of Ruin's power, a metal known as [[atium]], allows the user to see a few seconds into the future when Allomantically burned. [[Atium]] can also be used to store youth with [[Feruchemy]], that youth can be [[Compounding|compounded]] to create a semblance of agelessness. Atium when used as a Hemalurgic spike is able to steal any attribute, whether it be [[Allomancy]], [[Feruchemy]], or human.
 
   
  +
[[Feruchemy]] is a [[Metallic Arts|Metallic Art]] created by both Ruin and [[Preservation]]. Unlike Hemalurgy, it is inheritable; a person has to be born with the ability to use it.{{wob ref|5269}} Like Preservation's own magic, [[Allomancy]], Feruchemy grants sixteen separate powers for each of the base metals, as well as additional abilities for every [[God Metal]].{{file ref|Feruchemical table.jpg|text=Feruchemical Table}} A person can store an attribute of themselves in a piece of metal called a metalmind, diminishing it in themselves, and tap the stored attribute, increasing it in themselves -- for example, store strength to become weaker, then tap it to become stronger.{{book ref|mb4|part=ars}}
<gallery caption="Images of Ruin">
 
Ruin.jpg | Ruin by [[Coppermind: Artist/Kyle Pearson|Kyle Pearson]]
 
Marsh Ruin.png | Ruin commanding Marsh by [[Coppermind: Artists/eyeronis|eyeronis]]
 
Ati.jpg | Ati by [[User: Botanicaxu]]
 
</gallery>
 
   
  +
Which attribute can be stored depends on the metal used. A person can be born a Full Feruchemist, allowing them to use all powers, or a Ferring, letting them use only one metal. The base sixteen metals are divided into four categories: physical, which store attributes of the body, cognitive, which store attributes of the mind, spiritual, which store attributes of the soul, and hybrid, which store attributes related to bodily processes, like health or energy.{{file ref|Feruchemical table.jpg|text=Feruchemical Table}}
== Lore ==
 
=== The deal and betrayal ===
 
Ruin and [[Preservation]], the two [[Shard|Shards]] on Scadrial, struck a deal to create life on the planet. Neither Shard could create by themselves but working together they created life. Preservation gave an extra bit of Its self to create sentient life. [[Ruin]] allowed [[Preservation]] to do this on the agreement that [[Ruin]] could destroy everything. This left an imbalance between both shards.
 
   
  +
=== Mists ===
Preservation broke the terms of the agreement by sacrificing his mind to create a prison for Ruin's mind, preventing him from destroying the world. Furthermore, in an attempt to balance the power (since some of Preservation was now stored in humanity), he sequestered away a portion of Ruin's power by condensing it into the metal [[atium]].
 
  +
Ruin's power can sometimes manifest in a gaseous form as black mist, though it's unclear whether it has any magical effect. Its appearance does, however, signal Ruin's presence, and is how much of Ruin's power appears in the [[Cognitive Realm]].{{book ref|mb3|82}} This mist is present at the Well of Ascension upon Vin's discovery of the well, and a similar manifestation appears after [[Ati]]'s death before [[Sazed]] takes up both shards.{{epigraph ref|mb3|14}}{{book ref|mb3|82}} After the Final Ascension, black mists are sent forth by Harmony alongside Preservation's white mists.{{book ref|mb6|11}}
   
=== Touch on the world ===
+
=== Atium ===
  +
{{for|Atium}}
Ruin's entrapped mind could still influence the world. In particular, he changed the prophecies left behind by Preservation in an attempt to get the Hero of Ages to release him from his prison. This led to [[Rashek]] becoming the Lord Ruler. Ruin also encouraged the mists, left behind by [[Preservation]], to choke off sunlight to the planet. This is what became known as the [[Deepness]] from Pre-Ascension times.
 
   
  +
In solid form, Ruin's power appears as the metal [[atium]], named after the original Vessel. Like all God Metals, atium has its uses in the [[Metallic Arts]]. In [[Allomancy]], it allows the user to see a few seconds into the future; in [[Feruchemy]], it can be used to store youth, and through [[compounding]], it permits near-agelessness. As a [[Hemalurgic]] spike, atium can steal any power, including those of other magic systems, though it must first be refined.{{file ref|Hemalurgy table.jpg|text=Hemalurgy Table}}
Ruin was released from his prison accidentally by [[Vin]] 1024 years later (due to his manipulating the prophecies), and he immediately went on a rampage to destroy Scadrial. Central to this plan was his need to overcome Preservation, which meant that he needed to find the stash of atium left behind by the Lord Ruler.
 
   
  +
Atium burns incredibly quickly; even a relatively large bead lasts for only about two minutes.{{book ref|mb2|40}} Prior to the [[Final Ascension]], the metal could only be found in the [[Pits of Hathsin]], which surrounded Ruin's [[perpendicularity]]; a lake with black sheen, originally high in the mountains, near the [[Well of Ascension]], though it was moved underground by [[Rashek]] during his reshaping of the planet.{{book ref|mb1|33}}{{wob ref|5786}}{{wob ref|5525}} Production there ceased when [[Kelsier]] destroyed the crystals that atium grew from.{{book ref|mb1|32}} Post-[[Catacendre]], atium can no longer be formed, though remnants from before [[Ati]]'s death still exist.{{wob ref|6242}}
=== The death of Ati ===
 
Ruin's rampage was ended when he had [[Marsh]] kill [[Elend]]. Vin (holding the shard [[Preservation]]) realized she had nothing more to live for, and killed herself and took [[Ati]] with her.
 
   
  +
=== Direct intervention ===
The end of Ruin was Preservation's plan all along. Leras had held the Preservation shard for so long that he was bound by its intent, and could not kill or destroy anything, not even Ruin. He arranged to have the Shard pass on to a new holder, someone who would not immediately be so strongly bound, so they would have more freedom to use its power.
 
  +
Despite its destructive intent, Ruin is capable of, together with Preservation, vast acts of creations; among others, [[Ati]]'s partially responsible for creating the planet [[Scadrial]], and has worked together with [[Leras]] to fill it with living, thinking creatures.{{book ref|mb3|57}}{{au ref|Scadrial}} This grants him additional abilities within the world -- he can read and alter any text not written in metal, and even alter the landscape itself, prompting volcanic explosions and earthquakes.{{epigraph ref|mb2|1}}{{epigraph ref|mb3|48}} Ruin also lets the Vessel take on appearance and voice of different people, and lets him speak into the minds of others, though they must be either mentally unsound or pierced by a [[Hemalurgic]] spike to hear Ruin's voice.{{wob ref|7719}}{{book ref|mb3|45}}
   
  +
== History ==
[[Sazed]] picked up both Ruin and Preservation following Vin's sacrifice, and is the current Vessel of both Shards. Ruin's power was co-mingled with [[Preservation]]'s forming the shard [[Harmony]].{{wob ref|4115}}
 
  +
{{for|Ati#History|the history of Ati prior to becoming Ruin}}
   
  +
=== The Deal and Betrayal ===
== Quotes ==
 
  +
The [[Shard]] of Ruin was created on the planet [[Yolen]] at the [[Shattering]] of [[Adonalsium]], along with fifteen others, and taken up by [[Ati]].{{msh ref|3|2}} He, along with [[Preservation]]'s Vessel [[Leras]], departed the planet, and eventually wound up in an empty star system.{{au ref|Scadrial}} Originally, the two Shards were balanced there -- though they could create by working together, neither would be happy with the end result.{{epigraph ref|mb3|53}}
{{quote
 
| Kill him.
 
| Ruin to [[Zane]]{{book ref|mb2}}
 
}}
 
   
  +
Eventually, Preservation's desire to make sapient creatures prompted him to offer a deal to Ruin. Together, they could create [[Scadrial]] and fill it with living beings; by endowing them with sapience, Preservation would give up part of himself. In doing so, he left himself weaker than Ruin, which formed the basis of their agreement that Ruin would be allowed to destroy the world some day.{{epigraph ref|mb3|54}}
{{quote
 
| I am FREE!
 
| Upon Ruin's release.{{book ref|mb2|58}}
 
}}
 
   
  +
However, Preservation broke the terms of the deal by sacrificing his mind to create a prison for Ruin, preventing him from destroying the planet. Furthermore, in an attempt to balance the two Shards, he sequestered away a portion of Ruin's power by condensing it into the metal [[atium]].{{epigraph ref|mb3|55}}
{{quote
 
| "Ah, Vin," Ruin said, its voice almost fatherly in tone. "You act as if I were your enemy."<br>
 
"You are my enemy. You seek to end the things I love."<br>
 
"And is an ending always bad?" it asked. "Must not all things, even worlds, someday end?"
 
| Ruin to [[Vin]].{{book ref|mb3|45}}
 
}}
 
   
  +
{{image|The Well of Ascension by Eleonor Piteira.jpg|side=left|width=250px|[[Vin]] sinking into the [[Well of Ascension]], freeing Ruin}}
{{quote
 
| Do not mourn because the day of this world's end has arrived. That end was ordained the very day of the world's conception. There is a beauty in death--the beauty of finality, the beauty of completion.<br>
 
For nothing is truly complete until the day it is finally destroyed.
 
| Ruin to [[Vin]].{{book ref|mb3|45}}
 
}}
 
   
  +
=== Plotting Escape ===
 
{{quote
 
{{quote
  +
|'Giving the power up’ is a stand-in for giving the power to [Ruin]. The powers would interpret that as me releasing him. My power, accepting his touch back into the world, directly.
| There was one good thing about Ruin's voice--it tended to warn her when people were nearby, even if it did always tell her to kill them.
 
| Vin's thoughts about Ruin.{{book ref|mb3|57}}
+
|[[Leras]]{{msh ref|2|3}}
 
}}
 
}}
   
  +
==== Alendi ====
{{quote
 
  +
Ruin's prison, the [[Well of Ascension]], had a fatal flaw: every thousand and twenty four years, the [[perpendicularity]] would fill, requiring someone to take up the power. Were that person then to release it, Ruin's prison would vanish, letting him out; only by using the power themselves could that person, dubbed the [[Hero of Ages]], keep Ruin trapped.{{msh ref|2|3}}
| You still don't understand, I see. You're '''all''' on my side, Vin. I created you. You're my tools--each and every one of you. Zane, [[Aradan Yomen|Yomen]], you, your dear [[Elend Venture|Emperor Venture]]...
 
| Ruin taunting Vin.{{book ref|mb3|57}}
 
}}
 
   
  +
Despite being imprisoned in the Well, Ruin could still affect the world in minuscule ways, and thus began to plan for exploiting this fatal flaw to free himself. His initial scheme was to use [[Alendi]], chosen by the power of the Well, and convince him, through altering the [[Terris Prophecies]], to free him. However, a [[Terrisman]] named [[Kwaan]] realized Ruin's alterations. He sent his nephew, [[Rashek]], to try and stop Alendi from reaching the Well.{{epigraph ref|mb2|55}} Rashek eventually killed Alendi and took the power for himself, becoming [[the Lord Ruler]] and perpetuating Ruin's imprisonment.
{{quote
 
|This process we are engaged in, the end of all things—-it's not a fight, but a simple culmination of inevitability. Can any man make a pocket watch that won't eventually wind down? Can you imagine a lantern that won't eventually burn out? All things end. Think of me as a caretaker—-the one who watches the shop and makes certain that the lights are turned out, that everything is cleaned up, once closing time arrives.
 
|Ruin taunting Vin.{{book ref|mb3|57}}
 
}}
 
   
  +
==== Kelsier and Vin ====
{{quote
 
  +
Undeterred, Ruin began working on another idea, timing it with the Well's next call, a thousand years later. His plan was two-pronged: first, to ensure that Rashek would be killed, thus opening the way to the Well for others; second, to create someone who would enter the Well and release the power. For the first, he manipulated [[Kelsier]], a [[skaa]] [[allomancy|Mistborn]], with fabricated tales of the so-called Eleventh Metal, [[malatium]], convincing him that it would be the key to defeating the Lord Ruler; which, in a way, it turned out to be.{{epigraph ref|mb3|24}}
|You are a piece of me, you know. Beautiful destroyer. Blunt and effective. Of all those I've claimed over this brief thousand years, you are the only one I think just might be able to understand me.
 
|Ruin to Vin.{{book ref|mb3|57}}
 
}}
 
   
  +
For the second, Ruin picked a perfect pawn: another skaa Mistborn, a girl named [[Vin]] with an insane mother and an infant [[Allomancer]] sister. Speaking to the mother, Ruin caused her to kill the younger daughter and fashion a Hemalurgic spike out of her, then pierce Vin with the spike.{{epigraph ref|mb3|74}} Vin, unaware of this, eventually started wearing the spike as an earring and refused to give it up due to Ruin's influence, thus letting him subtly manipulate her.{{epigraph ref|mb3|75}} He did so mostly through the voice of her deceased brother, [[Reen]].{{book ref|mb3|54}}
{{quote
 
|The only point in creating something is to watch it die.
 
|Ruin to Vin.{{book ref|mb3|57}}
 
}}
 
   
  +
Eventually, the Well filled again, and Vin entered its chamber. [[Kelsier]], now a [[Cognitive Shadow]] and up to speed on Ruin's plan thanks to [[Leras]], attempted to stop her from releasing the power.{{msh ref|2|3}} To no avail, though -- Vin did so, and freed Ruin.{{book ref|mb2|58}}
{{quote
 
|Those quakes are the earth's final sighs," Ruin said. "Like an old man, moaning as he dies, calling for his children so that he can pass on his last bits of wisdom.
 
|Ruin to Vin{{book ref|mb3|63}}
 
}}
 
   
  +
=== Destruction upon Scadrial ===
  +
{{image|Ruin by zoethatcher.jpg|side=right|width=250px|Ruin in the [[Cognitive Realm]]}}
 
{{quote
 
{{quote
  +
|I have come to claim what was promised me. The only point in creating something is to watch it die.
|That's the way it must always be, as I told you. When men think they are helping the world, they actually do more harm than good. Just like you. You tried to help, but you just ended up freeing me.
 
|Ruin to Vin{{book ref|mb3|63}}
+
|Ruin{{book ref|mb3|57}}
 
}}
 
}}
   
  +
Once free, Ruin immediately set out on his plan to destroy [[Scadrial]]; however, his power locked in [[atium]] still diminished him enough to equal him with Preservation, and so he could not simply make it vanish in an instant. He tried to amend it by sending people out to find the missing atium stash.{{epigraph ref|mb3|47}} At the same time, he began killing all Scadrians. [[Ashmounts]] would erupt much more frequently, causing the omnipresent ash to fall more heavily and lava flows to endanger several towns.{{epigraph ref|mb3|48}} Earthquakes also became much more common, and started appearing in more places; while they used to be practically unheard of in the [[Dominance|Inner Dominances]], they began to appear there frequently.{{book ref|mb3|36}}
{{quote
 
|You can't fool me, Vin, I am God.
 
|Ruin to Vin{{book ref|mb3|65}}
 
}}
 
   
  +
Prompted by [[Ati]]'s inherent need to gloat, Ruin began appearing to both [[Vin]] and [[Kelsier]] to boast about his achievements; it was those meetings that allowed the two to realize that Ruin was a person, and not merely a force.{{book ref|mb3|57}}{{msh ref|4|4}} However, Ruin was also manipulating people to sow further chaos -- he took control of the [[Steel Inquisitor]]s and the [[koloss]] to create more of both.{{book ref|mb3|prologue}} He also arranged for [[Penrod]] and [[Spook]] to have Hemalurgic spikes to make sure he could use them. This would make [[Luthadel]] and [[Urteau]] too disorganized to mount a defense, requiring Vin and [[Elend]]'s attention.{{book ref|mb3|42}}{{wob ref|7973}} Though Ruin's scheme in Luthadel was successful, he ultimately failed in Urteau thanks to both Spook's force of will and the intervention of [[Kelsier]].{{msh ref|6|5}}
{{quote
 
|For Ruin, there is Preservation. Time immemorial! Eternity! And each time I push, YOU push back. Even when dead, you stopped me, for we are forces. I can do nothing! And you can do nothing! Balance! The curse of our existence.
 
|Ruin to Vin after her ascension.{{book ref|mb3|76}}
 
}}
 
   
  +
{{image|Harmony by Elisgardor.jpg|side=left|width=300px|[[Sazed]] ascending to [[Harmony]]}}
{{quote
 
|Balance, Ruin spat. Balance imprisoned me. Preservation's sacrifice--that was to siphon off the part of me that was stronger, to lock it away, to leave me equal with him again. For a time.<br>
 
Only for a time. And what is time to us, Vin?<br>
 
Nothing.
 
|Ruin to Vin as she tries to get a message to Elend.{{book ref|mb3|77}}
 
}}
 
   
  +
=== Achieving Harmony ===
{{quote
 
  +
{{for|Sazed#History|the history of Sazed prior to becoming Ruin}}
|Opposition. Balance. You'll learn to hate it, I suspect, though Preservation never could.|Ruin to Vin as she first attacks Ruin directly and withdraws.{{book ref|mb3|81}}
 
}}
 
   
 
{{quote
 
{{quote
  +
|You think this was your plan? It was [Preservation]'s. His all along. You created the thing that can kill you, Ruin.
|I can't decide if you're a fool, or if you simply exist in a way that makes you incapable of considering some things.|Vin to Ruin as Elend fights the koloss.{{book ref|mb3|81}}
 
  +
|[[Vin]]{{book ref|mb3|81}}
 
}}
 
}}
   
  +
Seeking to fight Ruin, Kelsier, now the temporary vessel of [[Preservation]], sought a way to pass the power onto Vin, whom Leras pointed out as its intended recipient. After freeing Spook from Ruin's influence, he told him to send a message to her written in metal, telling her about what was going on.{{msh ref|6|6}} Ruin, knowing what Kelsier was planning, sent [[Marsh]], one of his Inquisitors, to kill the messanger and read the text out-loud, thus letting Ruin know what had been written. However, that was part of Kelsier's plan -- as Marsh found out what was going on, he managed, in a moment of lucidity, to tear the earring out of Vin's ear, letting Kelsier bestow Preservation upon her.{{msh ref|6|7}}
{{quote
 
  +
|How do you like that! I killed him! I Ruined everything you love! I took it from you!
 
  +
After her Ascension, Vin clashed with Ruin a few times, though she was never able to overpower him, as at the time, the two Shards were far too balanced.{{book ref|mb3|80}} The tipping point, however, came during the [[Battle of Hathsin]]. There, Ruin, through the [[koloss]] and Inquisitors it controlled, sought to find the atium cache. At the same time, [[Elend]] and his armies, their [[Allomancy]] boosted by Vin, confronted Ruin's forces on the surface. Eventually, the stash turns out to be empty -- Elend had used all the atium with his mistings during the fight. At the same time, [[Marsh]], under Ruin's control, managed to kill Elend, and taunted Vin about it. Mourning, Vin, now free from all ties to the world, attacked Ruin directly. The collision between two equal and perfectly opposing forces killed both Vessels.{{book ref|mb3|81}}
|Ruin to Vin as he kills Elend{{book ref|mb3|81}}
 
  +
}}
 
  +
This end of Ruin was Preservation's plan all along. Leras had held Preservation for so long that he was bound by its intent, and could not kill or destroy anything, not even Ruin.{{msh ref|2|3}} And so, he arranged to have the Shard pass on to a new Vessel, who would not be so strongly bound by the Shard's intent and thus would have more freedom to use its power.{{book ref|mb3|81}}
  +
  +
However, the planet was still dying, and thus Preservation's plan reached its conclusion. [[Sazed]], present at the battle though not directly participating, saw the two powers and took up both of them, mixing them together into [[Harmony]]. With them, Sazed reconstituted the [[Scadrial]] that had existed before the Lord Ruler’s Ascension. {{book ref|mb3|83}}
  +
  +
{{for|Harmony#History|the subsequent events}}
   
  +
== Influence ==
  +
{{image|Vin by ToastSamurai.jpg|side=right|width=250px|[[Preservation]], [[Harmony]] and Ruin}}
 
{{quote
 
{{quote
  +
|You make our religion all about you. They hardly remember the truth any longer.
|He gave up his power at the Well, and into the mists, giving it to us so that we could take it. He always intended this to happen. You think this was your plan? It was his. His all along.<br>
 
  +
|Leras to Ruin{{msh ref|1|2}}
You created the thing that can kill you, Ruin. And you just made one huge final mistake. You shouldn't have killed Elend.<br>
 
You see, he was the only reason I had left to live.
 
|Vin's last words.{{book ref|mb3|81}}
 
 
}}
 
}}
   
  +
Ruin's influence is omnipresent on [[Scadrial]]; he was one of the planet's creators, and all things and living beings upon it are partially of him.{{au ref|Scadrial}}. Later, he manipulated its people and texts to arrange for his own freedom. He's also responsible by proxy for the planet's miserable state during [[Rashek]]'s reign, as the Lord Ruler's changes were partially prompted by his desire to oppose Ruin.{{epigraph ref|mb3|18}} Later, it was Ruin's destruction of the planet that caused [[Sazed]] to pick up the two powers and return Scadrial to its prior state.{{book ref|mb3|82}}
{{quote
 
  +
| You realize the forces I can bring to bear against you, child? You realize the power I have, the destruction I represent? I am mountains that crush. I am waves that crash. I am storms that shatter. I am '''the end.'''
 
  +
Unsurprisingly, Ruin features in a number of Scadrian religions. The cult of the [[Lord Ruler]] feared the [[Deepness]], an ancient enemy that Rashek defeated at the Well -- though that was a misinterpretation of [[Preservation]]'s snapping [[mist]]s.{{epigraph ref|mb3|81}} The religion of [[Trelagism]], from Scadrial's [[Classical Scadrial|Classical]] period, spoke of two gods, Trell and Nalt, who were each other's brothers and enemies.{{book ref|mb1|2}} The Terris religion likewise preaches about Ruin and Preservation.{{book ref|mb3|75}} In the present times, the [[Southern Scadrian]]s worship the Jaggenmire, a combination of Ruin and Preservation; within the Jaggenmire, Ruin is known as '''Herr''', and is described as both the brother and the husband to the other half, Frue -- he puts things into motion, while she makes them stop, and the two must work together to create life.{{book ref|mb6|22}}
| Ruin to [[Vin]].{{book ref|mb3|72}}
 
  +
}}
 
  +
Ruin's influence extends, however slightly, to other [[cosmere]] worlds. [[Hemalurgy]] has been used on other planets, albeit subtly.{{wob ref|2749}} Additionally, [[Nightblood]] contains Ruin's [[Investiture]].{{wob ref|10902}} How it got involved in the sword's creation is unclear, though it's likely due to the [[Command]] that made it being about destruction.
  +
  +
== Quotes ==
  +
{{for|Ruin/Quotes|a list of quotes from Ruin}}
  +
  +
== Trivia ==
  +
* Ruin originated in the trunked novel ''[[Aether of Night]]'', where he was known as '''Decay'''.{{wob ref|11236}}
  +
* In ''[[wikipedia:Magic: The Gathering|Magic: The Gathering]]'', colors, Ruin would be pure black.{{wob ref|11057}}
  +
* [[Odium]] was convinced that Ruin would implode.{{wob ref|15137}}
   
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
<references>
+
<references />
  +
{{complete}}
</references>
 
{{partial}}
 
 
{{Mistborn|Era 1}}
 
{{Mistborn|Era 1}}
 
{{cosmere}}
 
{{cosmere}}
  +
[[es:Ruina]]
[[category: notable articles]]
 

Latest revision as of 19:10, 2 April 2024

Ruin
Ruin.jpg
Vessel Sazed
Slivers Ati
Splinters None[1]
Status Whole, conjoined with Preservation
Perpendicularity Ruin's Perpendicularity, Pits of Hathsin
Magics Hemalurgy, Feruchemy
Residence Scadrial
Universe Cosmere

This force was time infinite. It was the winds that weathered, the storms that broke, the timeless waves running slowly, slowly, slowly, to a stop as the sun and the planet cooled to nothing. It was the ultimate end and destiny of all things. And it was angry.

—Kelsier[2]

Ruin, also known as Herr in Southern Scadrial, is one of the Shards of Adonalsium.[3] Its original Vessel was Ati, but it's currently held by Sazed alongside Preservation, forming Harmony.[4] Ruin's Investiture is typically associated with the color black.[5]

Intent[edit]

Death is necessary. Every clock must wind down, every day must end. Without me there is no life, and never could have been. Life is change, and I represent that change.

—Ruin[6]

Ruin is the embodiment of entropy and decay; it seeks change, so that all may age and pass.[7] It is not inherently evil, as without change there can be no life, but its destructive actions are often contrary to life existing peacefully.[8][9] This approach to Ruin as simply inevitable decay is largely due to Ati's original kind nature, as he deliberately channeled Ruin towards a more peacable state. In other hands, the Shard would've been a far more destructive force.[10]

It is the polar opposite of Preservation -- a relation most other Shards don't have.[11] Since the Final Ascension, Preservation has tempered Ruin's intent, which also makes it difficult for anyone holding Harmony to take direct action heavily favoring one side or the other.[12]

Associated magic[edit]

Hemalurgy[edit]

Ruin fuels Hemalurgy -- one of the three Metallic Arts on Scadrial, and a unique one among them in that it can be used by anyone anywhere, provided they have the appropriate tools and Intent.[13] It allows for removing a portion of a person's spiritweb and grafting it onto someone else with a metal spike, essentially stealing an attribute or power and giving it to another. Various attributes can be stolen, from physical qualities such as strength or senses to magical powers, like Allomantic abilities, and even foreign magic systems like Surgebinding.[14] What attribute is stolen depends on the metal used and the placement of the spike.[15] By transplanting powers and qualities, Hemalurgy can be used to effectively create new species; examples of such creatures are kandra, koloss and the Steel Inquisitors.

People who are pierced by Hemalurgic spikes can hear Ruin's voice in their head. Moreover, Ruin can also subtly manipulate the emotions of spiked individuals, and slightly alter their perception of certain things without them being aware of it. The more spikes pierce a person, the more holes in their spiritweb, which in turn allows for easier control as well as greater susceptibility to emotional Allomancy. For example, humans with one spike are only subtly affected by Ruin, whereas koloss, which are humans with four spikes, are under direct and absolute control of Ruin. Three spikes or less do not enable complete control of a person.[16]

Feruchemy[edit]

Feruchemy is a Metallic Art created by both Ruin and Preservation. Unlike Hemalurgy, it is inheritable; a person has to be born with the ability to use it.[17] Like Preservation's own magic, Allomancy, Feruchemy grants sixteen separate powers for each of the base metals, as well as additional abilities for every God Metal.[18] A person can store an attribute of themselves in a piece of metal called a metalmind, diminishing it in themselves, and tap the stored attribute, increasing it in themselves -- for example, store strength to become weaker, then tap it to become stronger.[19]

Which attribute can be stored depends on the metal used. A person can be born a Full Feruchemist, allowing them to use all powers, or a Ferring, letting them use only one metal. The base sixteen metals are divided into four categories: physical, which store attributes of the body, cognitive, which store attributes of the mind, spiritual, which store attributes of the soul, and hybrid, which store attributes related to bodily processes, like health or energy.[18]

Mists[edit]

Ruin's power can sometimes manifest in a gaseous form as black mist, though it's unclear whether it has any magical effect. Its appearance does, however, signal Ruin's presence, and is how much of Ruin's power appears in the Cognitive Realm.[20] This mist is present at the Well of Ascension upon Vin's discovery of the well, and a similar manifestation appears after Ati's death before Sazed takes up both shards.[21][20] After the Final Ascension, black mists are sent forth by Harmony alongside Preservation's white mists.[22]

Atium[edit]

In solid form, Ruin's power appears as the metal atium, named after the original Vessel. Like all God Metals, atium has its uses in the Metallic Arts. In Allomancy, it allows the user to see a few seconds into the future; in Feruchemy, it can be used to store youth, and through compounding, it permits near-agelessness. As a Hemalurgic spike, atium can steal any power, including those of other magic systems, though it must first be refined.[15]

Atium burns incredibly quickly; even a relatively large bead lasts for only about two minutes.[23] Prior to the Final Ascension, the metal could only be found in the Pits of Hathsin, which surrounded Ruin's perpendicularity; a lake with black sheen, originally high in the mountains, near the Well of Ascension, though it was moved underground by Rashek during his reshaping of the planet.[24][25][26] Production there ceased when Kelsier destroyed the crystals that atium grew from.[27] Post-Catacendre, atium can no longer be formed, though remnants from before Ati's death still exist.[28]

Direct intervention[edit]

Despite its destructive intent, Ruin is capable of, together with Preservation, vast acts of creations; among others, Ati's partially responsible for creating the planet Scadrial, and has worked together with Leras to fill it with living, thinking creatures.[29][30] This grants him additional abilities within the world -- he can read and alter any text not written in metal, and even alter the landscape itself, prompting volcanic explosions and earthquakes.[31][32] Ruin also lets the Vessel take on appearance and voice of different people, and lets him speak into the minds of others, though they must be either mentally unsound or pierced by a Hemalurgic spike to hear Ruin's voice.[33][34]

History[edit]

The Deal and Betrayal[edit]

The Shard of Ruin was created on the planet Yolen at the Shattering of Adonalsium, along with fifteen others, and taken up by Ati.[35] He, along with Preservation's Vessel Leras, departed the planet, and eventually wound up in an empty star system.[30] Originally, the two Shards were balanced there -- though they could create by working together, neither would be happy with the end result.[36]

Eventually, Preservation's desire to make sapient creatures prompted him to offer a deal to Ruin. Together, they could create Scadrial and fill it with living beings; by endowing them with sapience, Preservation would give up part of himself. In doing so, he left himself weaker than Ruin, which formed the basis of their agreement that Ruin would be allowed to destroy the world some day.[37]

However, Preservation broke the terms of the deal by sacrificing his mind to create a prison for Ruin, preventing him from destroying the planet. Furthermore, in an attempt to balance the two Shards, he sequestered away a portion of Ruin's power by condensing it into the metal atium.[38]

Vin sinking into the Well of Ascension, freeing Ruin

Plotting Escape[edit]

'Giving the power up’ is a stand-in for giving the power to [Ruin]. The powers would interpret that as me releasing him. My power, accepting his touch back into the world, directly.

Alendi[edit]

Ruin's prison, the Well of Ascension, had a fatal flaw: every thousand and twenty four years, the perpendicularity would fill, requiring someone to take up the power. Were that person then to release it, Ruin's prison would vanish, letting him out; only by using the power themselves could that person, dubbed the Hero of Ages, keep Ruin trapped.[39]

Despite being imprisoned in the Well, Ruin could still affect the world in minuscule ways, and thus began to plan for exploiting this fatal flaw to free himself. His initial scheme was to use Alendi, chosen by the power of the Well, and convince him, through altering the Terris Prophecies, to free him. However, a Terrisman named Kwaan realized Ruin's alterations. He sent his nephew, Rashek, to try and stop Alendi from reaching the Well.[40] Rashek eventually killed Alendi and took the power for himself, becoming the Lord Ruler and perpetuating Ruin's imprisonment.

Kelsier and Vin[edit]

Undeterred, Ruin began working on another idea, timing it with the Well's next call, a thousand years later. His plan was two-pronged: first, to ensure that Rashek would be killed, thus opening the way to the Well for others; second, to create someone who would enter the Well and release the power. For the first, he manipulated Kelsier, a skaa Mistborn, with fabricated tales of the so-called Eleventh Metal, malatium, convincing him that it would be the key to defeating the Lord Ruler; which, in a way, it turned out to be.[41]

For the second, Ruin picked a perfect pawn: another skaa Mistborn, a girl named Vin with an insane mother and an infant Allomancer sister. Speaking to the mother, Ruin caused her to kill the younger daughter and fashion a Hemalurgic spike out of her, then pierce Vin with the spike.[42] Vin, unaware of this, eventually started wearing the spike as an earring and refused to give it up due to Ruin's influence, thus letting him subtly manipulate her.[43] He did so mostly through the voice of her deceased brother, Reen.[44]

Eventually, the Well filled again, and Vin entered its chamber. Kelsier, now a Cognitive Shadow and up to speed on Ruin's plan thanks to Leras, attempted to stop her from releasing the power.[39] To no avail, though -- Vin did so, and freed Ruin.[45]

Destruction upon Scadrial[edit]

I have come to claim what was promised me. The only point in creating something is to watch it die.

—Ruin[29]

Once free, Ruin immediately set out on his plan to destroy Scadrial; however, his power locked in atium still diminished him enough to equal him with Preservation, and so he could not simply make it vanish in an instant. He tried to amend it by sending people out to find the missing atium stash.[46] At the same time, he began killing all Scadrians. Ashmounts would erupt much more frequently, causing the omnipresent ash to fall more heavily and lava flows to endanger several towns.[32] Earthquakes also became much more common, and started appearing in more places; while they used to be practically unheard of in the Inner Dominances, they began to appear there frequently.[47]

Prompted by Ati's inherent need to gloat, Ruin began appearing to both Vin and Kelsier to boast about his achievements; it was those meetings that allowed the two to realize that Ruin was a person, and not merely a force.[29][6] However, Ruin was also manipulating people to sow further chaos -- he took control of the Steel Inquisitors and the koloss to create more of both.[48] He also arranged for Penrod and Spook to have Hemalurgic spikes to make sure he could use them. This would make Luthadel and Urteau too disorganized to mount a defense, requiring Vin and Elend's attention.[49][50] Though Ruin's scheme in Luthadel was successful, he ultimately failed in Urteau thanks to both Spook's force of will and the intervention of Kelsier.[51]

Sazed ascending to Harmony

Achieving Harmony[edit]

You think this was your plan? It was [Preservation]'s. His all along. You created the thing that can kill you, Ruin.

Seeking to fight Ruin, Kelsier, now the temporary vessel of Preservation, sought a way to pass the power onto Vin, whom Leras pointed out as its intended recipient. After freeing Spook from Ruin's influence, he told him to send a message to her written in metal, telling her about what was going on.[53] Ruin, knowing what Kelsier was planning, sent Marsh, one of his Inquisitors, to kill the messanger and read the text out-loud, thus letting Ruin know what had been written. However, that was part of Kelsier's plan -- as Marsh found out what was going on, he managed, in a moment of lucidity, to tear the earring out of Vin's ear, letting Kelsier bestow Preservation upon her.[54]

After her Ascension, Vin clashed with Ruin a few times, though she was never able to overpower him, as at the time, the two Shards were far too balanced.[55] The tipping point, however, came during the Battle of Hathsin. There, Ruin, through the koloss and Inquisitors it controlled, sought to find the atium cache. At the same time, Elend and his armies, their Allomancy boosted by Vin, confronted Ruin's forces on the surface. Eventually, the stash turns out to be empty -- Elend had used all the atium with his mistings during the fight. At the same time, Marsh, under Ruin's control, managed to kill Elend, and taunted Vin about it. Mourning, Vin, now free from all ties to the world, attacked Ruin directly. The collision between two equal and perfectly opposing forces killed both Vessels.[52]

This end of Ruin was Preservation's plan all along. Leras had held Preservation for so long that he was bound by its intent, and could not kill or destroy anything, not even Ruin.[39] And so, he arranged to have the Shard pass on to a new Vessel, who would not be so strongly bound by the Shard's intent and thus would have more freedom to use its power.[52]

However, the planet was still dying, and thus Preservation's plan reached its conclusion. Sazed, present at the battle though not directly participating, saw the two powers and took up both of them, mixing them together into Harmony. With them, Sazed reconstituted the Scadrial that had existed before the Lord Ruler’s Ascension. [56]

Influence[edit]

You make our religion all about you. They hardly remember the truth any longer.

—Leras to Ruin[57]

Ruin's influence is omnipresent on Scadrial; he was one of the planet's creators, and all things and living beings upon it are partially of him.[30]. Later, he manipulated its people and texts to arrange for his own freedom. He's also responsible by proxy for the planet's miserable state during Rashek's reign, as the Lord Ruler's changes were partially prompted by his desire to oppose Ruin.[58] Later, it was Ruin's destruction of the planet that caused Sazed to pick up the two powers and return Scadrial to its prior state.[20]

Unsurprisingly, Ruin features in a number of Scadrian religions. The cult of the Lord Ruler feared the Deepness, an ancient enemy that Rashek defeated at the Well -- though that was a misinterpretation of Preservation's snapping mists.[59] The religion of Trelagism, from Scadrial's Classical period, spoke of two gods, Trell and Nalt, who were each other's brothers and enemies.[60] The Terris religion likewise preaches about Ruin and Preservation.[61] In the present times, the Southern Scadrians worship the Jaggenmire, a combination of Ruin and Preservation; within the Jaggenmire, Ruin is known as Herr, and is described as both the brother and the husband to the other half, Frue -- he puts things into motion, while she makes them stop, and the two must work together to create life.[3]

Ruin's influence extends, however slightly, to other cosmere worlds. Hemalurgy has been used on other planets, albeit subtly.[62] Additionally, Nightblood contains Ruin's Investiture.[63] How it got involved in the sword's creation is unclear, though it's likely due to the Command that made it being about destruction.

Quotes[edit]

Trivia[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. Steelheart Chicago signing
    Arcanum - 2013-10-05#
  2. Mistborn: Secret History part 2 chapter 1#
  3. a b The Bands of Mourning chapter 22#
  4. /r/fantasy AMA 2013
    Arcanum - 2013-04-23#
  5. Steelheart Chicago signing
    Arcanum - 2013-10-01#
  6. a b Mistborn: Secret History part 4 chapter 4#
  7. /r/Stormlight_Archive
    Arcanum - 2013-03-14#
  8. Pat's Fantasy Hotlist Interview
    Arcanum - 2010-09-13#
  9. The Hero of Ages Annotations
    Arcanum - 2010-01-07#
  10. General Twitter 2018
    Arcanum - 2018-06-06#
  11. Ancient 17S Q&A
    Arcanum - 2010-05-01#
  12. Shadows of Self chapter 7#
  13. Shadows of Self Chicago signing
    Arcanum - 2015-10-12#
  14. Skyward Chicago signing
    Arcanum - 2018-11-16#
  15. a b Hemalurgy Table
  16. The Bands of Mourning chapter 27#
  17. Hero of Ages Q&A - Time Waster's Guide
    Arcanum - 2008-10-15#
  18. a b Feruchemical Table
  19. The Alloy of Law Ars Arcanum#
  20. a b c The Hero of Ages chapter 82#
  21. The Hero of Ages chapter 14 epigraph#
  22. The Bands of Mourning chapter 11#
  23. The Well of Ascension chapter 40#
  24. The Final Empire chapter 33#
  25. Hero of Ages Q&A - Time Waster's Guide
    Arcanum - 2008-10-15#
  26. Ancient 17S Q&A
    Arcanum - 2010-05-01#
  27. The Final Empire chapter 32#
  28. Shadows of Self release party
    Arcanum - 2015-10-05#
  29. a b c The Hero of Ages chapter 57#
  30. a b c Arcanum Unbounded - The Scadrian System#
  31. The Well of Ascension chapter 1 epigraph#
  32. a b The Hero of Ages chapter 48 epigraph#
  33. The Hero of Ages Annotations
    Arcanum - 2009-11-24#
  34. The Hero of Ages chapter 45#
  35. Mistborn: Secret History part 3 chapter 2#
  36. The Hero of Ages chapter 53 epigraph#
  37. The Hero of Ages chapter 54 epigraph#
  38. The Hero of Ages chapter 55 epigraph#
  39. a b c d Mistborn: Secret History part 2 chapter 3#
  40. The Well of Ascension chapter 55 epigraph#
  41. The Hero of Ages chapter 24 epigraph#
  42. The Hero of Ages chapter 74 epigraph#
  43. The Hero of Ages chapter 75 epigraph#
  44. The Hero of Ages chapter 54#
  45. The Well of Ascension chapter 58#
  46. The Hero of Ages chapter 47 epigraph#
  47. The Hero of Ages chapter 36#
  48. The Hero of Ages prologue#
  49. The Hero of Ages chapter 42#
  50. The Hero of Ages Annotations
    Arcanum - 2010-02-02#
  51. Mistborn: Secret History part 6 chapter 5#
  52. a b c The Hero of Ages chapter 81#
  53. Mistborn: Secret History part 6 chapter 6#
  54. Mistborn: Secret History part 6 chapter 7#
  55. The Hero of Ages chapter 80#
  56. The Hero of Ages chapter 83#
  57. Mistborn: Secret History part 1 chapter 2#
  58. The Hero of Ages chapter 18 epigraph#
  59. The Hero of Ages chapter 81 epigraph#
  60. The Final Empire chapter 2#
  61. The Hero of Ages chapter 75#
  62. Arcanum Unbounded San Francisco signing
    Arcanum - 2016-11-30#
  63. Legion Release Party
    Arcanum - 2018-09-19#
  64. Miscellaneous 2011
    Arcanum - 2011-10-11#
  65. Skyward Pre-Release AMA
    Arcanum - 2018-10-05#
  66. Mini-Con 2021
    Arcanum - 2021-11-22#
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